Soot-cleaner for boilers.



F. W. UNAKER. 800T CLEANER FOR BOILERS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1915.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916 F, W UNAKER. 800T CLEANER FOR BOILERS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, m5.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

UNiTED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

FREDERICK W. LINAKER. OF DUBOIS. PENNSYLVANIA, ADSIGNOR TO THE VULCAN SOO'I CLEANER C0,, OF PITTSBUBG, PA., OF DUBOIS, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

SOOT-CLEANER FOR BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

To all who), it 11/ 01/ ounce/ll lie it known that l, FREDERICK \V. LISA- KER, a subject of the King of England, residing at Dubois. in the county of Clear-field and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soot-Cleaners for Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in soot cleaners for boilers, and especially boilers of the vertical tube type, such as the \Yickes boiler.

An object of the invention is to provide a soot cleaner for vertical tube boilers that adapted to use a cleaning medium such as steam or gaseousfluid, and wherein the distributing pipe for the same is normally retracted from the heat zone of the boiler.

further object of the invention is to provide a soot cleaner for multi-tubular boilers in which the distributing pipe for spraying the cleaning fluid is moved to operative position between chosen tubes of the boiler, by the cleaning fluid. the distributing member to be returned to a retracted position by the samesupply of cleaning fluid.

lVith the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood. the same consists in the novel construction. combina tion and arrangement of parts to be herein after more fully described and then claimed.

In the mrcompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiment of the present invention and to which reference is had herein by like characters designating corresponding parts throughout the several \iews: Figure l is a vertical sectional view ol :1 p rtion of a vertical water tube boiler ol' the \l'irlu-s type, with the presentinvention attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a horizontal se tional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a ton- .gitudinal sectional view of one of the cleaner elements. l ig. l is a crosssectional view taken on line l\'- l Y of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa ectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 1). Fig. i; is a cross-sectional view taken on line Vl\"l of Fig. 23. illustrating the spider :ounection between the operating rod and the piston. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the check valve that is positioned within the piston and carried by the operating rod. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the removable (llhxlll'ti for one end of the piston. and Fig. l)

an end elevation of the collar mounted on the operating rod betweenone end'casting and the hollow piston. l

The present invention aims to provide a soot cleaner for water tube boilers and especially vertical tubeboilers of the lVickes type, in the form of cleaning members carried by the casing wall of the boiler and suitably positioned so that the distributing pipes for the cleaning fluid, when projected into the space between chosen tubes of the boiler, will clean the entire exterior surfaces of the water tubes, and soot or other coating adhering thereto will be ettectively removed. It is a well known fact that fire and products of combustion passing over water tubes leaves a soot and incrustation thereon which has a deleterious effect on the boiler tubes,

and tends materially to shorten the life and use of the same. A boiler of the type shown in the present application and having attached thereto the cleaning elements to be hereinafter more specifically described, can be readily cleaned so that the exterior faces of the tubes will be freed from incrustations, etc, while the boiler is in operation, one of the principal objects of the present invention being to provide a cleaner which may be operated while the boiler is otherwise in use.

In describing the invention in detail, and referring more particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, there shown a water tube boiler of the vertical type and known in the trade as the \Yickes boiler. the same including the outer casing or wall it) communicating with the cit-set tire box ll while the vertical water tubes 12 are positioned within the casing 10. The tubes 12 are connected at their. lower ends in the usual manner to a water drum while the upper ends thereof communicate with a steam dome 13. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thereis provided a central ballle wall 1 which is positioncd centrally of the tubes 12 and termi uates at its upper end at a point spaced below the steam dome 13. thereby to provide a space for the heat and products of combustion issuing from the tire box 11 to pass to the other side thereof through the space provided between the upper end of the same and the said steam dome. These parts are elements contained in a llickes vertical water tube boiler and form no part of the present. invention.

The products of. con1bustion and ilames 4 I and incrustations to be deposited and formed \J from the fire box 11- cause a coating of soot on the-tubes l2, and the cleaners for'removing this coating are mounted in the casing 10 and suitably positioned.thereabout, each cleaner being designated in general as 15. The cleaning fluid for; removing the soot from the tubes 12- may be either steam or gaseous fluid and I do' not wish to confine myself to any particular fluid for cleaning the tubes, and for purposes of clearness, this fluid will be hereinafter referred to" as cleaning fluid 7. Two of the cleaning members are preferably positioned on opposite sides bf the casing 10 and usually in vertical alinement, and the cleaning fluid is supplied thereto through the piping system shown ip dotted line position in Figs. 1 and 2, the main feed 16 being controlled by a valve cut-oil 17 vand a main line 18, which communicates by branch pipes 19 with the pipes 20 forming communication between the vertically alined cleaners. A drip cup 21 and valve 21' are provided beneath the main fluid feed 16, so that in case steam is the cleaning fluid, the same may be run off for a period until a dry steam appears.

One of the'cleaning members 15 is shown in detail in Fig. 3, and a complete description of one will su'flice for the complete set. Each cleaner includes end castings 22 and 23 having opposed threaded openings into which are received the threaded ends of a connecting cylinder 24. The end casting 23 is embedded within the casing 10 of the boiler as shown in Fig. 1, while the adjacent 1 end of the cylinder 24 is also received therein and constitutes a substantially rigid support 'j for the cleaning member.

The distributing member forthe cleaning fluid'consists of a hollow piston 26 having a threaded opening at one end thereof into which is received a threaded cap 27 having a valve seat 28. The opposite end of the hollow piston 26 is provided with the con-,

tracted threaded .opening, adapted to receive the threaded end of the tubular member 29 which constitutes the distributing pipe for the cleaning fluid, the other end of the distributing pipe being closed as by a removably threaded plug 29. The outer end of the casting'23 is provided with a contracted opening 30 and an inwardly-directed shoulder 31 slightly spaced from the outer end to provide suitable guides and supports for the distributing pipe 29, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3. An annular groove is provided in the exterior wall of the hollow piston 26 and has packing rings 32' positioned therein and adapted to wipe the inner face of the cylinder 24 to prevent the fluid in the barrel 25 from passing to either side thereof.

A threaded opening 33 is provided in the casting 22;and into which the fluid supply pipe 20 is introduced and controlled by the valveBl, more clearly shown in Fig. 2. Any

thereof when the distributing pipe 29 is in operative position, being circular in cross section as indicated at 34;, while the forward end of the rod is rectangular in cross-section as indicated at 35. A circular enlarged headv 36 is carried by the extreme inner'end of the operating rod and is slightly smaller in diameter than the interior of the said distributing pipe. A packing gland 37 surrounds the cylindrical portion 34 of the rod and prevents the escape of the cleaning fluid from the casting 22 through the opening in whichithe rod operates. The inner wall of the hollow piston 26 carries a spider fral'he 38 having a'square opening adapted'to re ceive the squared portion 35 of the operating rod. Spaced lugs 39 are carried by one side face of the spider 38 and are adapted to engage the rear wall of the check valve 40, this valve being in the form of a disk ring having a square opening adapted to be loosely supported on the-squared portion 35 of the operating rod and adapted in its operation to engage the valve seat 28 in the closure cap 27 in a manner to behereinafter more clearly stated. The cylindrical portion 34 of the operating rod that extends within the casting 22 has a collar 41' mounted thereon and held in fixed position by the set screws 42, there being an enlarged-head 43 carried by said collar and adapted to be engaged by the rear end of the hollow piston.

The upper end of the casting 22 has secured thereto a hood section 44 which carries a projecting portion 45 adapted to overlie the circular portion of the rod 34. Means are provided which will indicate when the distributing pipeis in proper position be-' tween the tubes of the boiler and consists of an indicator or tell-tale device which ineludes a collar 46 secured to the rod 34 and so positioned thereon as to lie beneath the hood extension 45 when the distributing pipe is, its operative position.' The handle 47 is secured to the extreme outer end of the operating rod, and by which the said rod may be revolved for imparting such move: ment to the distributing pipe.

To cause the distributing pipe to be positioned between the tubes 12 of the boiler and for supplying the same with cleaning fluid for removing the soot and other incrustations from the water tubes, the con-" trolling valve 17 shown in Fig. 1 is opened and the cleaning fluid passes through the main supply pipe 16 into the main branch 18 and is fed therefrom through the subbranches 19 into the pipes 20. The controlling valves 3 may then be opened to permit the cleaning fluid to pass into the casting 22 and this cleaning fluid being fed under pressure, causes the piston 26 to move within the cylinder 24 to a point adjacent the extreme end thereof, at which time the compression coil spring'lS is engaged and cushions the further forward movement of the piston and thereby obviates injury to the moving parts, andwill also cause the piston to come to a gradual state of rest The spring :8 surrounds the distributing pipe 29 and normally engages at one end the annular shoulder 31 on the inner wall of the casting hen the piston moves forwardly as above indicated, the distributing pipe 29 is projected through the casting 23 and between chosen tubes of the boiler. aid is guided by the squared portion 35 of the operating rod in combination with the spider ot the said piston. The operating rod is held normally at its extreme outer position so that the outer end of the collar l1 engages the adjacent end wall of the casting and the rod remains normally stationary until the spider 38 carried by the movable piston engages the enlarged circular head 36 on the said rod. and at this time further movement of the piston caused by the pressure of the cleaning tluid will move the said rod. and cause the collar 1% to move beneath the hood extension which will indicate that the distributing pipe is in correct position between the tubes for operation. Suitably-disposcd radial openings it) are provided in the distributing pipe 29 and the cleaning fluid is caused to issue therefrom in jets that describe a ircular path. The cleaning fluid pcrmitted to pass through the cap 2? in the end of the hollowpiston. and thereafter enter the distributing pipe. and when the handle .5 is revolved. such movement is imparted to the distributing pipe 29 by the spider 3S, and squared portion '55 ot the operating rod, it being noted that the distributing pipe is fixed to the hollow piston and moves therewith.

By ctmtrolling the dircction oi travel oi the cleaning fluid. the same may be shut nit from the casting and fed to the casting 23 at the forward side of the piston 26 to cause the piston and distrilmting pipe carricd thereby to be retracted to its normal inoperative position. or with the distrilmting pipe out of the heat zone of the boiler and positioned remote from the boiler tubes within the cylinder and castings. This operation is altordcd by the by-pass 50" in the supply pipe 20 and controlled by the valve .31. the b v-pass 0011111llllttlting with the fluid pipe 52 that held and supported by the end castings 22 and 2 5, there being provided an aperturcd lug on the forward upper end of the casting 2-2 through which the said pipe 52 extends while the same is threaded at its opposite end into the casting 23 as at 5 1. A fluid passage is provided in the upper side of the casting 23 and communicates at one end as at to the inner wall of the casting at a point adjacent the shoulder 31 and in rear of the extreme forward movement of the piston By operating the valves as above stated, the cleaning fluid is shut olt from the casting 22 and directed into the pipe and passage 55, the said fluid engaging the torwariil end of the piston 28 to move the same rearwardly. and thereby draw the distributing pipe 2 into the cylinder and castings. When the distributing pipe is drawn into these parts, the cleaning fluid that is caused to retract the piston will pass through the openings l9 into the interior of the distributing pipe and hollow piston 26, and in endeavoring to escape through the cap 27 oi the piston, will force the check Valve i0 on to the seat and thereby-shut (iii the escape of the cl raning l'luid and further insure a positive retracting movement of the piston and distributing pipe. The operator may readily determine when the distributing pipe is completely within the outer end of the casting 23 by the indicating ring 46, the same being projected from beneath the hood extension by the piston cap 27 en gaging the enlarged head i?) of the collar ll, which will move the said collar and operating rod through the packing gland 37.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from the above detailed description of the same, am it to be noted that the fluid utilized for removing the soot and inerustations from the exterior walls of the water tubes is also used as the power means for projecting the cleaning or distributing pipe into spaces between chosen tubes, and wherein the fluid also used to retract the distributing pipe.

The drawings show the preferredembodiment for carrying my invention into effect, but I do not wish to confine myself to the details shown, as various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and i3 scope of the invention and which will t'all within the scope of the appended claims.

"What I claim as new is 1. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers including end castings and a connecting cyl inder, a hollow piston and distributing pipe carried thereby reciprocable in said cylinder and castings. an operating rod. extending into said piston and distributing pipe, fluid-operated means for moving the piston and distributing pipe in either direction, and indicating means for determining when the distributing pipe is within the connecting cylinder and castings.

A soot cleaner for water tube boilers comprising a cleaning device including a cylinder, a hollow piston and distributing,

pipe carried by said piston arranged within said cylinder, fluid supply means for each end of the cylinder at 'oppositesidgs of the piston, an operating rod extending into said piston and distributing pipe, and a check valve supported ,on said rod adapted to be moved to engaging position with said piston to prevent the escape of cleaning fluid therethrough.

3. A soot cleaner for Water tube boilers comprising a cleaning device including end castings, and a connecting cylinder, a hollow piston within said cylinder, a dis tributing pipe carried by said piston, an operating rod including a portion angular in cross-section slidably extending into on e of v said castings, the piston and the distributing pipe, connecting means between the angular portion of the operating rod and the piston whereby the same are caused to rotarily move in unison, cooperative valve mechanism carried by. the piston and angular portion of the rod, and valve-controlled fluid supply pipes connected to each casting whereby the piston-is caused to move in opposite directions.

4. A soot cleaner. comprising an inclosing housing, a piston including a valve seat and a distributing pipe carried thereby and slidably arranged within said housing, fluid suppl means for'each end of the housing, an operating rod associated with said piston wlrereby when the distributing pipe is projected from the housing, the same may be rotated by said rod, and a valve carried by said rod adapted to engage the piston valve seat to prevent the escape of fluid therethrough.

5. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers in c uding an inclosing hor -1ng, a distributing.

pipe arranged within said housing, a mem-' her having an opening tlr. -re&n connected to said distributing pipe, an operating rod received in sai penmg in the member, an enlarged .lz. carried by the extreme inner end of said operating rod, an indicating device carrird by said rod exteriorly of the housing, and means for moving said distributing pipe exteriorly of said housing and to a position to cause said member to en- 7. A soot cleaner for boiler tubes comprising a housing, a hollow piston and distrib uting pipe carried thereby and slidably disposed within said housing, an operating rod having a portlon angular 1n cross-see tion slidably associated with said piston, whereby when said piston anddistributing pipe are projected, the same may revolved, a collar secured to. said operating rod and arranged within said housing, whereby when the piston and distributing pipe are retracted the said collar is engaged thereby to move outwardly the operating rod to indicate that the distributing pipe within the housing.

8. A soot cleaner for the water tubes of boiler including a housing, a piston and dis-v tributing pipe carried thereby arranged withinsaid housing, an operating rod carried by said housing and extending into said piston, a tell-tale device carried by said rod and arranged exteriorly of said housing, and means carried by said rod within said housing adapted to be engaged by said piston to cause the said rod to move longitudinally to expose the tell-tale device to indicate that the distributing pipe is in retracted inoperative position.

9. A soot cleaner for boiler tubes including end castings, a connecting cylinder therefor, a hollow piston Qslidably-mounted in said cylinder, a distributing pipe provided with radial openings carried by said piston, a spider having a square opening carried by said piston, an operating rod including a squared portion adapted to be re ceived in said spider opening, a cap for one end of said piston provided with a valve seat, a disk valve having a squared opening slidably-mounted on-said operating rod and adapted to be moved to engaging position with the valveseat, and fluid supply means also caused to rotate in unison with said rod, cooperative val re mechanism carried by said piston and operating rod, and a dual fluid supply system for said cylinder whereby the plston 18 caused to move in either direction.

11. Means for cleaning the tubes of boilers including a housing, a hollow piston and distributing pipe slid-ably mounted within said housing, there being radial openings in names operating rod may be moved inwardly and subsequently revolved to impart rotary movement to said distributin g pipe, cooperative valve mechanism carried by the piston and rod, and fluid supply means for the housing, the said fluid adapted to escape through the openings in the distributing pipe.

12. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers including a housing, a piston and distributing pipe arranged within said housing, an operating rod slidably associated with said piston and adapted to revolve the same and fluid supply means for each end of the housing whereby the piston and rod are reciprocated, a hood carried by the outer end of the housing, an extension carried by said hood adapted to overlie the outer projecting end of said operating rod, a collar secured to said operating rod exteriorly of said casting, whereby the position of the distributing pipe may be determined by the location of the collar with respect to the hood extension.

13. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers comprising a cleaning member for the boiler tubes having the inner end mounted in the .boiler casing, a piston and distributing pipe arranged within the cleaning member, an operating rod freelyextending into said cleaning member and slidably associated with said piston and distributing pipe, fluid supply means connected to each end of the cleaning member whereby the uistributing pipe may be projected into a space between chosen rows of tubes and subsequently rotated by said rod and retracted to inoperative position within said member, and cooperating indicating means carried by the rod and the outer end of the cleaning member to determine whether the dist ibuting ipe is in projected operative or retracted inoperative position.

14. A soot cleaner, comprising in combination with. an inclosing housing, a distributing pipe carried thereby and adapted to be reciprocated therein and to be projected therefrom to cleaning position, and an indicating device made operative after the initial movement of the distributing pipe when the pipe reaches the extreme movement in opposite directions for indicating the position of the pipe with relation to the liousing.

15. A soot cleaner for boiler tubes including a housing, a piston and distributing,

pipe within the housing, means for reciprocating the piston and distributing pipe to project the pipe beyond the housing to tube cleaning position, and an indicating device made operative at a point adjacent extreme movements of the piston in opposite directions to determine the position of the distributing pipe.

it A soot cleaner for boiler tubes including an inclosing housing, a piston and distributing pipe arranged therein, and an indicating device made operative after the piston starts movement in either direction to determine the exact position of the distributing pipe. I

17. A soot cleaner including a distributing pipe movable to operative and inoperative positions, and means for indicating when the distributing pi )e is in operative or inoperative position, t e said means being rendered operable only after the start of movement of the distributing pipe.

18. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers comprising a housing, a hollow piston and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably mounted in said housin a valve seat formed at one end of said housing, an operating rod slidably extending into said housing, piston and distributing pipe and interior walls of said hollow piston and spaced from the ends thereof, slidablv received on the angular portion of said rod whereby the piston and distributing pipe may slide, freely over said rod and rotate in unison therewith.

19. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers comprising a housing, a piston and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably arranged in said housing, an operating rod extending into said piston and pipe, coiiperative means carried by the piston and rod for limiting the outward movement of said pipe, and means carried by said rod adapted to engage said housing and be engaged by said piston for limiting theinward movement of said distributing pipe.

20. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers including a housing, a piston and cleaning fluid distributing pipe carried thereby slidably mounted in said housing, there being radial openings in said pipe, fluid supply means for each end or the housing, an operating rod slidably associated with said piston and pipe adapted to revolve the same, coiiperative valve mechanism carried by said piston and rod that is open when the distributing pipe is in projected position and automatically closed to cause the fluid pressure at one end of the housing to return the distributing pipe to inoperative position within the housing.

21. A sootcleaner for water tube boilers including a housing, a piston and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably arranged in saidhousing, an operating rod slidably extending into said housing, piston and pipe,

- ing, an operating rod slidably associated in said housing, an operating rod slidably with said housing, piston and pipe adapted to revolve the piston and pipe and indicate the position of the pipe relative to the housing, and independent means carried by said rod positioned interiorly and exteriorly of said housing adapted to engage the housing to limit the longitudinal movements of said rod. 4 r

23. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers including a housing, a piston and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably arranged associated with said piston and pipe adapted to revolve the same, cooperative means carried by'said piston and said rod adapted to limit the outward movement of the distributing pipe, and means carried by said rod interiorly of said housing to engage said housing and be engaged by said piston to limit the inward movement of the piston and distributing pipe.

24. A soot cleaner including a housing, a piston and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably arranged in said housing, an operating rod slidably associated with said pistonand pipe adapted to revolve the same, cooperative means carried by said piston and said rod adapted to limit the outward movement of the distributing pipe, fluid'supply means for each end of the housing, and cooperative valve mechanism carried by the piston and rod adapted to be closed during the retracting movement of the piston and pipe.

25. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers including ahousing, a piston and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably arranged in said housing, an operatingrod slidably associated with said piston for revolving the same, means carried by said rod interiorly and exteriorly' of said housing adapted to engage the housing to limit the longitudinal movements of said rod, and means carried by said housing cotiperating with the exteriorly positioned means on the rod for determining when the distributing pipe is in projectedoperative o1- retracted inoperative position. i

In testimony wheredf- I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK W. LINAKER.

Witnesses;

RUTH L. FYE, Dnn SOBER.

for Water tube boilers 

